Insanity. Madness. Epic. Party. 2JZ. Gatebil!

What is there to say or write about Gatebil events that hasn’t already been said or written? Who hasn’t seen the likes of Aasbø, “Mad” Mike or Vaughn Gittin jr. drifting through traffic via YouTube? So what can I say or write that sounds new or fresh to you? To be honest, I don’t think I can. But I’d still like you to join me on this trip. Gatebil through the eyes of a first timer. That’s right! I got my Gatebil cherry popped at this year’s main event; Gatebil Rudskogen!

It was about time as well. Due to various reasons I wasn’t able to visit the main event in previous years. Boy, do I regret that now! Yes, I’m not even going to build up a story line or anything.

Because like I said at the beginning of this article, you probably damn well know what Gatebil is about! I can sweet talk about it all I want but it’s all about doing, crazy, mad, idiotic stuff with anything on four wheels and having a great time while doing said crazy, mad, idiotic stuff.

For example, the clipping point at the end of the pit wall! Throw it in, little e-brake, job done! Sounds like fun right?

And if RWD isn’t to your liking, just go mad with your 4WD! He probably takes the kids to school on Monday as well.

Of course Gatebil Rudskogen is much more than just drifting. There are multiple Time Attack classes and some are even combined with a few drifters here and there.

But no matter what class was out on track, every single car hauled ass. Now slow poking about here! Either in a straight line…

… or going sideways! The thing is, it just seemed “normal”. Even for me, a Gatebil greenhorn, all the hooning and tire destruction became “normal”. Because after all, this is Gatebil Rudskogen! You’re supposed to hoon as much as possible.

But please, don’t get me wrong! I don’t mean normal in a boring way. I mean it in the best way possible. I mean, doing a burnout on your snow scooter on top of a pickup truck? Sure, because Gatebil!

Insisting you do your flame throwing act because “you’re a media dude! Of course you’re gonna like this! Just take the damn picture!” ?
Gatebil baby!

Swap a diff in 5 minutes? Gearbox in an hour? Or two engines in three days (yes that actually happened at black smoke racing!)?
F*ck it! Gatebil!

Maybe I’m making the wrong statement by saying normal. I mean that Gatebil sets the norm! It has been everything I could hope for and more. I had my expectations before I arrived but *every* *single* *one* has been exceeded!

I’ve been told multiple times this was a slow year so to speak. No big international names and the event itself has seen busier years. But if this was a slow year…

… than I’m really wondering what a busy year looks like? To be honest I think it’s best if I find out for myself next year. Just.. you know… to make sure that this hasn’t been a fluke or something.

So what have I learned from my first ever Gatebil event?
Well for starters, Scandinavian people really, really, really hate tires!

I mean like…

… really hate them or something. I’ve never, ever, in my life, seen so much tire smoke, destroyed tires and molten rubber. I’ve never inhaled so much smoke as well and I’ve been a smoker since I was 14 years old.

The second thing I’ve learned is JZ everything! And I do mean everything. From BMW’s, Volvo’s, Skylines or “just” an s-chassis. Just put a 1 or 2JZ in it, slap a huge turbo on that baby and you’re good to go.

The third thing that got stuck in my brain is that I now know why the Toyota Supra has become so rare in the rest of the world, even in Japan. They al drive drift/race in Scandinavia.

And they are doing a damn fine job at it as well if I may say so!

But let’s be brutally honest. You probably don’t really care what I’ve learned at Gatebil Rudskogen and I can’t really blame you.

Because as I’ve mentioned at the start of this article, you damn well know what this is all about. But just in case let me sum it up for you. Gatebil is…

Insanity.

Madness.

Epic.

Party.

2JZ.

Mix it all together and there you go! Gatebil.
I’ve got no other way of putting it.

But stay tuned for more Gatebil coverage as we’ve got some features lined up as well.

For now, scroll down for a ton of bonus images! I hope you enjoy them as much as Bil “the bearded man of drifting” Baldwin enjoyed Gatebil!